Audiophilepure

https://www.hifinews.com/content/canton-reference-9-standmount

Playing the Modern String Quartet’s imaginative, jazz-leaning arrangements of Mussorgsky’s Pictures At An Exhibition [Solo Musica SM468], the Reference 9’s combination of control, weight and resolution was very much to the fore. This balanced performance made the most of the interplay of the four musicians and the instrumental timbres, while at the same time placing the performers between and beyond the speakers in a noticeably three-dimensional manner. All this gave the album’s twists on familiar music – and a nod to ELP’s version of the work – plenty of space to breathe. Therefore, while Canton’s smallest References might not be an immediate choice for those seeking a standmount design, it would a mistake to overlook them – these have much to offer.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/ps-audio-aspen-fr5-loudspeaker

Though very good, the FR5s can’t perform miracles. Like the 6.5″ midwoofers in the B&W 705s, those in the FR5s, even aided by those passive radiators, could not compete in bass extension with larger speakers. Moreover, when driven at high levels with low-frequency content, their output is affected—somewhat coarsened—well up into the midrange. It’s just physics.

The solution—my solution anyway—is to add a subwoofer or two. Adding a pair of KEF KC92s and an 80Hz crossover produced an Aha! experience. On the Berio and Vollenweider recordings, low notes that were only hinted at previously were now felt. I was also pleased to note that at high listening levels, no matter the source, there was an added clarity, subtle but greatly appreciated, throughout the midrange, probably because the FR5 midwoofers were no longer also responsible for producing the lowest bass.

The Jazzon V2 reveals the music in full disclosure, with a sense of effortless fineness. It uncovers layer after layer of musical complexity without imposing its character or signature. Cube Audio’s smallest floor standers reveal the music for what it is, with a higher-than-usual level of engagement, achieving a harmonious balance between sound, space, and emotional bonding with the presented music material.

Any loudspeaker, or high-end audio product, is subject to voicing, to deliver proper equilibrium and sonic balance. A touch of character can be meaningful, but it should not overwhelm the music. Cube Audio expertly balances tonal accuracy and dynamic expression without breaking the elusive quality of sound.